I am really appalled at how poorly I was just treated by Northside ENT. I saw Dr. Youkilis two weeks ago for ongoing throat issues. He went over treatment for LPR (a specific type of reflux) and also suggested that I see a voice therapist for Muscle Tension Dysphonia. I asked if I needed to call to schedule that (because every other referral I've had recently, the doctor's office that I was referred to has contacted me to schedule the appointment). I could have misunderstood, but I thought he said that she was out of town, and her assistant would be getting in touch with me to set something up. So I waited. I was planning to call to schedule it myself if I hadn't heard anything in 2 weeks.
One week later (last week) I started getting some sinus drainage & irritated throat. I went to work anyway, which involves talking to a large group of people for a couple hours. I completely lost my voice. Now, I haven't been able to talk in 4 days. It's getting worse, not better, and my tonsils feel messed up too. Yesterday at 8:30 am, I submitted a question through Northside ENT's online form since I can't talk on the phone, explaining my condition and asking if I should go ahead and set up an appointment. There was no response by 3:30, so I had my husband call and try to schedule an appointment for me. The receptionist said she would check with the doctor and call back. She didn't call back until the next day (just now) when she told my husband that it's my fault I lost my voice because I didn't schedule the follow-up with the voice therapist. He explained that I'm sick as well, it's not just my voice, and again he was told that there's nothing they're willing to do for me since I didn't set anything up with their voice therapist. I'm completely shocked at this response, and obviously will be looking for a different ENT (and voice therapist) in the future. But for now I'm off to urgent care to find a health professional who is actually "professional" and willing to help me.
Edited 2 days later to add that I was correct that they were supposed to be contacting me to schedule the voice therapy appointment. I just received a call from someone at their office who apologized for an office miscommunication they had that resulted in her not being aware that she was supposed to contact me to set that up. So I was refused treatment because of their own mistake. Nice! I also got a follow up call from Dr. Youkilis who apparently did NOT tell whoever my husband talked to that he would not see me since I hadn't scheduled the voice therapy appointment. Based on other reviews of this place (many of which are hidden in Yelp's "reviews that are not recommended" section, as mine probably will be soon) it sounds like they have a problematic receptionist who is going to continue to lose them patients until they do something about her. But Dr. Youkilis himself was wonderful, and I have no problem whatsoever with him. Unfortunately, I will still be contacting a new ENT because I don't feel comfortable in a medical office that employs someone who has such little concern for patients.
Edited a few months later to add that I am SO glad that the receptionist at Northside ENT was so awful. Dr. Youkilis misdiagnosed me (though I am at least glad he recognized the voice problem which was not the primary reason for my visit), so the voice therapy that they were so insistent that I do would have done absolutely no good. I'm now being seen by one of the top specialists in the state for my actual problem (Adductor Spasmodic Dysphonia) and look forward to finally having the correct treatment to resolve my issue. read more